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R A P I D R I V E R A R T S & C U L T U R E M A G A Z I N E FILM REVIEWS DVD Pick of the Month The Arrangement A Film Whose Time Has Come If you’re interested in just how ambitious mainstream filmmaking was 40 years ago, then seek out the DVD version of The Arrangement. Panned and patronized at the time of it initial release, Elia Kazan’s adaptation of his bestselling book plays much better now than it did in 1969. Made at a time when movies were enjoying unheard of freedom due to the demise of the production code, The Arrangement clearly shows that 1950s director Kazan (On The Waterfront) was still a filmmaker to be reckoned with. The basic premise of the film has been done many times. A successful businessman (Kirk Douglas) suffers a midlife crisis and tries to commit suicide, and that’s just the beginning. How he and the other characters deal with the aftermath of that action make up the rest of the story. Kazan has always been an actor’s director and the film provides a showcase for the young Faye Dunaway as Douglas’ mistress who gets him to reexamine his life but wants out to be with someone else. Deborah Kerr, in her last major film appearance, is superb in the difficult role of the wife who tries to understand what Douglas is going through, but doesn’t want to give up the rich lifestyle she’s become accustomed to. Hume Cronyn as the family solicitor, with plans of his own, and Richard Boone, in a rare non-Western role, as Douglas’ Kirk Douglas and Faye Dunaway in “The Arrangement.” ailing father give the movie even more acting firepower. Marlon Brando was originally slated to play the lead but bowed out allowing Kirk Douglas, who really wanted to work with Kazan, to step in. Just as he did in Lust For Life, where he played Vincent Van Gogh, Douglas acquits himself well in an emotionally instead of a physically challenging role. The film is similar to American Beauty in its combination of raw emotions, alternating points of view including black humor, and touches of surrealism with Douglas keeping pace with all the changes. It was ambitious then and it still is today. The movie is not without its flaws. At over 2 hours it runs too long and is occasionally sloppy in everything from editing to make-up but the powerful writing and intense performances make The Arrangement provocative filmmaking nearly 40 years later. Called everything from ‘a harrowing emotional ride’ to ‘a self-indulgent mess,’ it is ultimately for the home viewer to decide what they think of it. Review by Chip Kaufmann Questions/Comments? You can email Chip or Michelle at reeltakes@hotmail.com Special Screening of Alice Neel Documentary Learn more about acclaimed portrait painter Alice Neel by attending a screening of the award-winning documentary on Thursday, June 12 starting at 7:00 p.m. This fascinating 2007 documentary by Andrew Neel tells the story of an artist who painted people ranging from Communist Party leaders to her neighbors in New York’s Spanish Harlem and created an impressive body of work that documents New York and America during the 20th century. Alice Neel premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and won the by Nancy Sokolove Audience Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival that same year. The film has been screened at numerous film festivals and the June 12 showing at the Fine Arts Theatre will be its Asheville premiere. The screening will be held at the Fine Arts Theatre, located at 36 Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville. General admission tickets are $10. Tickets for Museum members, as well as seniors and students are $8. Advance tickets are available now at the Asheville Art Museum by calling (828) 253-3227 or after 6:30 p.m. on the day of the show at the Fine Arts Theatre. ‘Movies’ continued from pg 25 but not others. Mamet escalates the story to the point of absurdity; the bad luck that befalls our hero is over the top, and the extensive, supremely webbed collaboration between the bad guys is ludicrous. However, as implausible and sometimes ridiculous as it seems, you’re somehow willing to roll with it. Chiewetel Ejiofor, who was last seen by American audiences in American Gangster, plays Mike Terry, an honorable student, teacher and master of Jiu Jitsu. When the story starts, Mike is running his own studio but is experiencing financial difficulties that are causing stress for Emily Mortimer and Chiewetel Ejiofor star in Redbelt. him and his wife. In a series of bizarre and unlikely events, Mike finds himself in position wherein his luck seems to be changing for better. Instead, what ensues is a tangled web of corruption and conspiracy. It’s a web that tests Mike’s ultimate motto, “there is no situation from which you cannot escape.” Ejiofor is incredibly engaging as Mike. The audience believes in him, trusts him, and you just can’t take your eyes off him. Ironically, the movie isn’t Frank Capra-ish in the least and yet Mike’s good guy status is up there with Gary Cooper in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town and Jimmy Stewart’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Rounding out the cast are Emily Mortimer, Alice Braga, Tim Allen, Joe Montegna and Rodrigo Santoro. They all deliver spot on performances. The problem is, after you’ve watched the film, the aforementioned mish-mosh diminishes the effectiveness of the performances and the heart of the film. This is too bad, because it really is a worthwhile little movie. Rated R for strong language. Reviewed by Michelle Keenan Speed Racer ∑∑1/2 Short Take: A $150 million experimental feature disguised as a family film that is about 2 hours too long. Reel Take: There is nothing wrong with an experimental film or one that tries out new and different techniques for their own sake. Most of the time these films are short with the occasional feature (Rope-1948 or Russian Ark- 2002) thrown in but at 134 minutes Speed Racer is not short and the Wachowski brothers (The Matrix) are not Alfred Hitchcock or Aleksandr Sokurov. Billed as a history making film achievement, Speed Racer reminded me of all the other movies it took something from. There’s the Robin Williams bomb Toys, Walter Hill’s Streets of Fire and Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill to name just a few. That’s because the story is one dimensional even for a movie based on a 1960s limited animation cartoon show. Younger brother obsessed with cars idolizes older brother who is obsessed with cars. When he’s killed, younger brother plans to get those who did older brother in while setting new speed records along the way. But a surprise awaits him. The most surprising aspect of Speed Racer is the amount of big name talent that the Wachowski brothers got to appear in it. John Goodman, Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, and Susan Sarandon were all paid very well to act in front of a green screen for several weeks, and they are all professional enough to make the most of it and have fun with the limited material. Going back to the experimental nature of the film, which is really what it’s all about, the Wachowskis and their technicians have created a non-stop video montage that ranges from the eye popping to the mind numbing (especially after over two hours). Take the then new computer generated images of Disney’s Tron from 1982 and then mix them with the deliberately stylized, completely artificial backgrounds of Sin City. To finish it off add some bold pop art colors along with MTV rapid style editing and you’ll have some idea of what’s going on here. The film definitely has its moments but in the long run it is not family friendly (at least for grown-ups) and at a budget reported at around $150 million, Speed Racer (after tanking on its opening weekend) could become one of the costliest flops in history. I’m sure that’s not the sort of history making the Wachowskis and Warner Brothers had in mind. Rated PG-13 for action sequences, some violence, and language. Review by Chip Kaufmann 26 June 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 10
R A P I D R I V E R A R T S & C U L T U R E M A G A Z I N E The ARTFUL Home W Instant Aging With a Parchment Technique hen we hear the word “parchment” we generally have an image of aged and yellowed paper, but the Oxford English Dictionary reminds us that parchment is, in fact, “the skin of a sheep or goat, and sometimes that of other animals, dressed and prepared for writing, painting, engraving, etc.” “the skin of a sheep or goat, or sometimes that of other animals…” When considering it in this way, we may not immediately think of it as something we would want on our walls or furniture, but it is an effect that adds warmth and texture to any room. This is a subtle technique that doesn’t photograph well in black and white, so you will have to use your imagination. As with other techniques I have written about, this uses simple, inexpensive tools, and the only extensive time needed is to allow one step to cure before another is applied. As the OED definition implies, this is not only an effect for furniture such as a desk top, or panels on a wall; it is also a great background for calligraphy or other lettering. 1. Start by painting your surface with off-white, semi-gloss paint, and allow this to dry overnight. 2. Apply a thin coat of clear glaze to the surface. 3. Using a 3” chip brush, apply patches of Maize* glaze in varying sizes to cover about 75% of the surface. 4. Using a 1” chip brush, apply Mocha* glaze in some of the spaces, covering about 20% of the surface. 5. Use a damp sea sponge to manipulate and blend the two glaze colors together. Take care not to overwork the sponging as this will produce a muddy effect. Move the sponge in one direction across the surface, creating a somewhat fibrous effect. 6. Using a wad of cheesecloth, gently dab the surface to soften and remove harsh sponge marks. Allow this to dry overnight. “it is also a great background for calligraphy or other lettering” 7. To add an even richer, aged effect, use a 3” chip brush to apply small patches of Moss* glaze over the surface. 8. Work the glaze over the surface with a damp sea sponge, but don’t try to make it completely even. 9. Soften the whole effect with cheesecloth to produce a subtle patina. Roxane Clement, professional decorative painter. TIP: When doing this method on a wall, work in irregular areas of about 3’ by 3’, taking care not to create obvious borders. Keep edges moist with a damp sponge or fine mister. This effect is easier to do with two people. In low traffic areas this effect does not require a protective finish, but it is advisable to apply a protective low sheen clear finish in bathrooms or kitchens. *Valspar pre-mixed glaze, available at Lowe’s. by Roxane Clement Is the Air in Your Home Making You Sick? Moisture Control Unit Decorative painter Roxane Clement spent ten years in Raleigh, NC as a theatre set painter and lighting designer. She graduated with distinction from the prestigious Decorative Restoration Program of the City and Guilds of London Institute at A-B Tech and taught Decorative Painting there for two years. She has worked on numerous restoration projects in Asheville including the Smith- McDowell House, the Biltmore Estate, and the A-B Tech library. Her decorative painting business specializes in stone effects and wood graining. Contact her at rmclement2001@aol.com Quilting Bee ~ Thursday, June 12 & 26 Open to all ages and skill levels. Group meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month beginning at 9:30 a.m. Earth Fare-South Asheville, 1856 Hendersonville Road. For more information contact Janice Husk, (828) 210-0100. Free. Trapped Moisture and Gases Can Be Harmful! Remove Unhealthy Air Reduce Molds and Musty Odors • Expels stale, musty air, replaces with fresher, healthier air • Reduces harmful gases and pollutants • Quiet, safe, environmentally friendly • Maintenance-free—no filters or buckets • Uses less electricity than a 40-watt light bulb Improve the air quality in your home, satisfaction guaranteed Call for a FREE Humidex phone consultation 1-800-663-2721 Vol. 11, No. 10 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — June 2008 27
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